Safety aspects of modular high temperature gas cooled reactors

Technical Report · Wed May 14 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5592853

Kasten, P R

Modular high temperature gas cooled reactors (MHTGRs) are being developed which have a high degree of passive safety. The advantageous safety characteristics are due to: the high heat capacity of the graphite core; the high temperature capability of the core components; the chemical stability and inertness of the fuel, coolant, and moderator; the high retention of fission products by the fuel coating; the single-phase characteristics of helium coolant; the inherent negative temperature coefficient of reactivity of the core; the defense in depth against air and water ingress events; and the ability to cool the reactor by passive heat transfer mechanisms following postulated accidents. Even for a number of accidents having very low probabilities of occurrence, the cumulative fission product release at the site boundary is estimated to be below those acceptable under the Protective Action Guidelines.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5592853
• Report Number(s): DOE/OR/21400-T270; ON: DE86013496
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Testimony of Fred R. Mynatt, Associate Director for Nuclear and Engineering Technologies, Oak Ridge National laboratory before the Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production of the Committee on Science and Technology, US House of Representatives
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
HTGR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR SAFETY
GRAPHITE
MODULAR STRUCTURES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
CARBON
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
GAS COOLED REACTORS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
REACTORS
SAFETY
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
210300 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Graphite Moderated